Although hospital treatment is provided free, when it comes to paying for care, whether or not you would qualify for any free care is based on both your health and wealth.
NHS Funded Care
If your need for care is primarily a health need, you may qualify for free NHS Continuing Healthcare (or if you live in Scotland – Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care), regardless of your wealth.
To qualify, if you live in England, your needs must be judged to meet specified criteria laid down in the NHS Continuing Healthcare Checklist. If successful, all of your care would be provided free of charge – no matter where you need care at home or in a care home.
Even if you do not qualify, if you live in England or Wales and assessed as needing nursing care and receive this care in a nursing home, you should automatically qualify for NHS Funded Nursing Care Contribution which is paid directly to the care home and helps meet the additional cost of nursing. Currently in England Funded Nursing Care is worth £254.06p.w.(2025-26) or if you live in Wales – £221.80 p.w. (2024-5)
If you live in Scotland, you will only qualify for their “Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care” all the time your needs can only be met in an NHS Hospital or Hospice.
If you have not been assessed, you can request an assessment by asking your GP, Social Worker, Care Home Manager or by contacting your NHS CHC co-ordinator at your local Integrated Care Board who’s contact details can be found by following this link find your local Integrated Care Board
Local Authority Funding
On the other hand, should you only need help with daily activities such as dressing or washing, your care is the responsibility of your Local Authority and you will only qualify for any financial assistance if your assessable capital (including your home in most cases if you are single widowed or divorced and moving into a care home ) is less than just:-
| Care Received | England | Wales | Scotland |
|---|---|---|---|
| At Home | £23,250 | £24,000 | £35,000* |
| In a Care Home | £23,250 | £50,000 | £35,000** |
All figures correct as at April 2025.
* If you live in Scotland and are assessed as needing care you will receive Scotland Personal Care Contribution regardless of capital or income.
No matter where you live, if your assessable assets exceed this amount you will need to be a self-funder when you should at least find out how much an immediate needs annuity would cost.
** Nursing & Personal care in a care home is paid by the Scottish Parliament regardless of capital, BUT accommodation costs are still means tested.
If your assessable capital exceeds these and your need for care is expected to be permanent, you will need to be a self-funder, in which case an immediate needs annuity may be suitable so we would suggest you at least request a quote.
What Happened To A Personal Cap on Care Costs in England?
Although the previous Government promised that people living in England would only have to spend a maximum of £86,000 to fund their care, it was never introduced.
Consequently, if you live in England and have assessable assets of just £23,250 (2025-6) you will need to pay for your own care and in which case, an immediate needs annuity could offer a very tax-efficient way to cap the cost and ensure you can leave more of your money to those you always intended.
Annuity premiums depend on a number of factors including; your age, health and the annual income you need it to provide, so insurers will need to first of all obtain some medical information and, therefore, it isn’t possible to give you any accurate quotes immediately. However if you just want a quick idea of just how much an annuity might cost, try our instant immediate needs annuity estimator.
I need to pay for my care -what can I do?
There are a number of options depending on where you need care – at home or in a care home, and the most typical ones are:
Equity Release will reduce the value of your estate and can affect your eligibility for means tested benefits.
Each have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Being a SOLLA accredited impartial care fees and equity release adviser we will gladly discuss these with you to find the right solution and minimise costs.
If you would like to discuss your options with a qualified adviser, why not call today on Freephone O800 180 4336. Alternatively, you can find out more by visiting:
But if you would simply like to discuss your options why not call us today on 0800 180 4336
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